Horn



WW I" L. G. HARTDORN.

HORN.

APPLICATION FILED AUG- 11. 1916.

1,339,559. Patented y 11, 1920.

' l 14 W j] [5 LOUIS G. HARTDORN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

' HORN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented -May 11, 1920.

Application filed August 11, 1916. Serial No. 114,306.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS Gr. HARTDORN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Horns, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an 1m- 'proved automobile born or similar alarm signal that is calculated to emit a warning sound, which sound is due to the v bration of a diaphragm and is usually amplified by passing through a horn or simllarly shaped tube. if

The invention is further designed to pro vide a device of this kind in which the diaphragm 1s vibrated by a mechanically operated vibrating means, which vibratlng means is normally inoperative, but which is made operative by the application of an electrical current to part of the mechanism, which current actuates said mechanism so that a connection is established, and in this way the sounding of the alarm or signal 1s controlled.

A horn of this kind has advantages, particularly in the economy of current consumed, and also in strength and promptness of the alarm when necessary to promptly sound the horn.

The invention is further designed to provide a horn that can be placed in any convenient position on the car, can be driven mechanically from the engine, and can be connected up in an operative manner by an electrical connection, placing the horn in circuit.

The invention illustrated in the accomoanying drawing in which one form of horn is illustrated, but it will be understood that modified forms of connections, different shapes of parts, and different relative positions of the parts of the horn can be employed without departing from the scope of the invention.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a vertical section of a horn showing one form of the device, and Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic viewillustrating one manner of connecting the horn and the engine and the electrical circuit so as to properly operate the device.

The horn consists of any preferred form of casing 10 which is usually cup-shaped and is stamped of sheet metal having a flange 11, and a trumpet or horn part 12 has a flange 13, the flanges 11 and 13 embracing a diaphragm ll between them, the diaphragm being adapted to hold any suitable wear-piece as the peg or stud 15, or any other projection suitable for receiving the impact of a vibrating device to cause a frequent vibration of the diaphragrm 14: to emit the sound therefrom. Suitably secured to the casing 10 is :rbracket of desired form, the horn illustrated having a bracket consisting of a lower arm 16 which is fastened to a U-shaped piece 17 forming the two upper bearings of a post 18, the post 18 being fastened in the upper bearing 17 by suitable lock-nuts 19 and 20. The post serves to hold the vibrating device or vibrating ele ment of the horn actuating mechanism, the horn actuating mechanism in the form shown consisting of a wheel 21 which is preferably in the form of a ratchet or has similarly arranged projections on the periphery thereof so that when the wheel is rotated the stud 15 is rapidly reciprocated. The wheel 21 is secured to a magnetic element 22 which in the form shown is provided with a recessed part 23 which is provided with tapered walls, this recessed part being annular and having, suitably placed therein, the coil 2 1. The magnetic element 22 is mounted on a sleeve 25 which is rotatably arranged on the post 18 and has an extension or flange 26 which is recessed as at 27 so as to coact with the thimble 28 to receive the balls 29 and thus form a ball bearing. The thimble is held in place by a loch-nut 30 which is screwed on the extension 31 of the post 18. The wires 32 and 33 extend from the coil 2% to the rings 34f. and 35, these in turn being in electrical contact with the brushes 36 and 37, the rings 34; and 35 being mounted on an insulating sheet 38 or otherwise suitably insulated from each other. The brushes 36 and 37 are connected to the wires 39 and 10 which pass from the device and are connected up with a suitable source of electrical energy, as will be hereinafter described. The coil 24; and what is herein called the magnet element 22 are calculated to be magnetized when the coil is influenced by an electric current, and for this purpose the element 22 is preferably made of soft iron or similar material that is easily magnetized. In the lower bearing 16 is a supporting or thrust bearing 41 in which rotates a suitable connection -12, in the form shown this being in the shape of a sleeve which can have any means on its outer end for attaching it to an operating device, the sleeve being adapted to 'engage the extension 31 of the post 18 and being secured to a clutch member 43 which is provided with a ridge or flange 44 which extends into the recess 23, the opposing faces of the recess 23 and the projection 44 being suitably roughened or ribbed if desired so that when they are moved so that they come together they grip readily and are not rotatable relative to each other, whereby slipping is overcome and the movement of the two elements of the clutch in unison is assured.

The clutch member 43 usually is designed to operate vertically so that when it is slid in operative connection with the other member 22 of the clutch, it drops from said magnetic member by gravity when it is released, but, if desired, a spring l5 can be placed in the recessed part 46 of the member l -3 to insure the separation of the two members of the clutchwhen the magnetic member is not in circuit.

In F 2 the horn is illustrated as being connected by thewires 39 and 1-0 with a bat tery i7 and a suitable switch 48, such as a push button or similar contrivance used on automobiles. The connection 42 is shown attached to a flexible shaft 49 which has a coupling member 50 by means of which it is attached to any rotating device as the axle of the motor 01' engine 51, although it will be evident that other means of operating the horn from the engine can be used. A flexible shaft, however, has advantages in that it permits the disposition of the horn at any point where it is convenient and enough space is permitted for its installation, usually under the hood of the automobile, and any source of electrical energy can supply the current in lieu of the battery at? illustrated. In this CIQX'lCG the engine oper ates the connection to the horn, the horn being placed in any suitable position and the engine is not connected up normally with the diaphragm vibrating mechanism. hen, however, the current is completed through the circuit and the magnet member of the clutch is in circuit, it attracts the clutch member 13 which is pulled and held in engagement with the magnetic clutch member and the diaphragm vibrating mechanism is actuated to sound the horn.

This device is economical in the use of current and can be used in such cars as are not equipped with strong batteries or a strong electric system. All the current that is required simply magnetizes the clutch member, and the initial starting of the diaphragm vibrating mechanism, which is usually rather diflicult and requires considerable power, is not done by the electric power but by the positive mechanical operation from the engine which makes the device prompt in responding to the will of the operator of the horn and there is no time lost in starting the signal. If the battery in the car is weak, as sometimes happens in cold weather, so as to prevent the effective operation of an. electric motor horn, such condition. will, not interfere with the operation of my improved horn, as a very small amount of current is sufficient to actuate the magnetic clutch.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim:

1. In an automobile horn, a casing, a diaphragm, a post in fixed. relation to the diaphragm, a wheel rotatable on the post to vibrate the diaphragm, a, clutch. member rotatable on the post and secured to the wheel, a sleeve rotatable in the casing and extending to the exterior thereof, a second clutch member on the sleeve, and means on the end of the sleeve whereby it can be attached to. a shaft.

2. In an automobile signal, a casing, a diaphragm, a post fixed in the casing, a wheel to vibrate the diaphragm and a magnetic clutch member rotatable on the post, a second magnetic clutch member, a connection on the second member for its attachment to a shaft, and electric connections whereby the clutch members can be energized.

3. An automobile signal comprising a caslng, a diaphragm in the casing, a bracket, a post held in the bracket, an extension in line with the post, a sleeve on the post, a magnetic clutch member on the sleeve, a wheel to vibrate the. diaphragm on the sleeve, a second clutch member on the extension, means for connecting the extension to a shaft, and electrical connections for energizing the clutch members.

4. An automobile signal comprising acasmg, a diaphragm, a bracket having a lower arm and a U-shaped piece to form upperi bearings, a post fixed in the upper bearings, I

an extension rotatable in the lower arm, a

sleeve on the post below the bearings, a magnetic clutch member and a wheel to vibrate the diaphragm on the sleeve, a second magnetic clutch member on the extension, meanson the extension for securing a shaft thereto, and means for energizing the clutch members.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I hereto set my hand this 9th day of August,

LOUIS G. HARTDORN. 

